Guitarist Joe Bonamassa doesn't want his New Jersey fans to be busy when he comes to the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, so he's already put tickets on sale for the show.

Fans can fork over $125, $99, $89 or $79 — plus fees — to guarantee a seat for a concert that will happen seven months from now.

On a Monday night in May.

Once reserved for fine arts and classical music, advance ticket sales are becoming more common in pop and rock 'n roll. Tickets for Richard Nadar's Summer Doo Wop Reunion at the Izod Center are already selling for a concert set for May 31.

"This will be (the band's) only area appearance, and we want to make sure his fans are aware and can plan ahead," BergenPAC's Jim Steen said about the concert that is still five months away.

In many cases, the advance sales are a response to the increased competition for the public's entertainment dollar.

"How do you beat the other guy? It's competition from act to act, promoter to promoter, facility to facility, and it all leads to fewer successful shows," New Jersey promoter John Scher said. "If a show is in May, hardly anything else is on sale, and you're making a commitment. If there's another show you like, you'll think twice."

Other factors are at work, too. The concert's day of the week is considered because mid-week shows are harder to sell. The size and enthusiasm of an artist's fan base matter.

Sometimes an artist or promoter chooses to put on sale an entire tour, so the later dates are available extra early. In other cases, the venue manipulates the schedule to help sales.

"You try not to schedule anything that will compete with something else going on sale that weekend," Steen said. "You don't want to split the audience."